Thursday, August 18, 2011

What a year it has been! It seems that over the past year so many things have happened. Friends have gone away, my baby girl was born, relationships changed.... So many changes. There is one thing that remains constant and that is God and His love. It's in the hard times that we realize this the most. Sometimes a person fails us, sometimes we see the faithfulness of someone God has put into our lives. This year in my life two of the most monumental things happened:

I lost my mom, who I talked to almost daily, who shared my faith, who encouraged me, and who I couldn't wait to introduce my baby girl to.

Then there was the arrival of my baby girl, the most wonderful and beautiful little angel ever (who is, right at this moment, pulling everything off of the shelf under her changing table, AGAIN.....).

I have found it amazing as I've walked through this year and through these major changes in life, how all of the other relationships around us can change. For instance, I realize just how incredible my husband is. I have to say, it gives me a whole new appreciation for single parents because without my husband, who is also my best friend, I'm not sure how I would have made it through this past year. I began to see friendships in different light - those that are heavily dependant on what you give the other person and not a true give and take, fade because you don't have extra to give. Those that I may not have realized were so valuable and true friends became even brighter. But mostly I realize the complete and total faithfuleness of God and the value of His friendship.

"The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." -Proverbs 18:24 (AMP)

God gives us friends among each other and His desire is for us to be in relationships, but we all fail each other from time to time. But there is a relationship that we can rely on no matter what, and that is the most precious relationship that we can cultivate. Our relationship with the Lord is one that will never fail us, even when we ourselves fail. It is the relationship that will also put all of our other relationships in the right perspective, even in the hard times. It is the one that will bring healing and forgiveness. It is the one that will bring joy and laughter. It is the one that will bring truth and revelation to our lives.

Friendship with God is of greater value than any other thing in our lives and more worthy of our time and attention, yet so many times we get busy and let our time with God dwindle away. The wonderful thing about Him is that He is waiting there as soon as we realize it and turn to Him. So there is no better time than the present to take time out for Him. He is ever faithful and always there for us no matter if we are celebrating on the highest mountain or finding our way through the lowest place in our life. His love and friendship is there. I have always known that, but over the past year my need for that revelation has become more prevelant than ever.

Friendship with God - what a wonderful thing! He gives us so much, and to end this entry, here are a couple of pictures of the precious ones He has given to me: